This is what I'm looking at so far. I've been offered a full-ride at my home-state university (T30 school w/ low COL). Also, was admitted to a T6 (not HYS). Originally applied to state-school as a safety, but all the talk about the collapsed legal market, soul-crushing loans, debt collectors breaking your knee-caps, etc., has really made me nervous. Assuming no scholly from T6, which should I choose. My initial interest in law is to work in financial regulation, or do corporate law, but I'm a 0L so I honestly don't know shit. What you think?

Yeah, I applied to two of MVP and have heard absolutely nothing, but no schools lower than those (except the safety school). Maybe should have considered debt aversion a little more, but really didn't think that much into it until faced with the actual decision. Guess I could keep waiting out the cycle and see what the final tally is.

Edit: For instance, full ride at UCLA becomes a question of confidence and how much you want New York Big law. Full ride at UCLA is better than sticker at NYU or Columbia if the nine hour days, six or seven days a week model of Biglaw doesn't appeal to you.

Yeah, that makes sense. The T30 is UGA, which doesn't really get discussed much on here, but seems to be a strong regional school. Don't know if this helps much, but thanks for the replies. Help is always appreciated.

I had a similar situation last year in that I had a nearly full-ride from some T25 schools, as well as a sticker offer from a T6. Went with the T25 school since I couldn't stomach the idea of being 200K+ in debt, plus the T25 was in the region I wanted to work (which the T6 was not). I should also add that biglaw is not my sole focus with regard to job prospects. If that is your absolute goal, then the T6 probably makes more sense.

It's not necessarily a bad decision to choose UGA free over CCN at full price--depends on what you want out of law school and your tolerance for debt. But with a 175/3.8, you probably could have gotten (or will get) significant scholarships at some top 20 or even t14 schools.

markdyoung wrote:Yeah, I applied to two of MVP and have heard absolutely nothing, but no schools lower than those (except the safety school). Maybe should have considered debt aversion a little more, but really didn't think that much into it until faced with the actual decision. Guess I could keep waiting out the cycle and see what the final tally is.

There's still time to apply wherever. I haven't even sent in any of my applications yet. For as worried as you seem about the debt, its hard to believe you haven't applied to anything in between MVP and Georgia.

markdyoung wrote:This is what I'm looking at so far. I've been offered a full-ride at my home-state university (T30 school w/ low COL). Also, was admitted to a T6 (not HYS). Originally applied to state-school as a safety, but all the talk about the collapsed legal market, soul-crushing loans, debt collectors breaking your knee-caps, etc., has really made me nervous. Assuming no scholly from T6, which should I choose. My initial interest in law is to work in financial regulation, or do corporate law, but I'm a 0L so I honestly don't know shit. What you think?

Most people on TLS will advise taking the highest ranked school and paying sticker. This is because they're young and stupid and know nothing about life. Take the free ride since you said it was a good regional school (I assume this means you're happy with the region its in)

markdyoung wrote:This is what I'm looking at so far. I've been offered a full-ride at my home-state university (T30 school w/ low COL). Also, was admitted to a T6 (not HYS). Originally applied to state-school as a safety, but all the talk about the collapsed legal market, soul-crushing loans, debt collectors breaking your knee-caps, etc., has really made me nervous. Assuming no scholly from T6, which should I choose. My initial interest in law is to work in financial regulation, or do corporate law, but I'm a 0L so I honestly don't know shit. What you think?

Most people on TLS will advise taking the highest ranked school and paying sticker. This is because they're young and stupid and know nothing about life. Take the free ride since you said it was a good regional school (I assume this means you're happy with the region its in)

TITCR, I can't believe anyone would even suggest otherwise. Take the full ride at UGA and the worst case scenerio is you never find a legal job in GA or anywhere else and you lost 3 years of wages you could have earned while in law school. If you go to CCN, the worst case scenerio is you end up with $200k of debt that cannot be discharged, and you never find a legal job, and lost 3 years of wages.

markdyoung wrote:This is what I'm looking at so far. I've been offered a full-ride at my home-state university (T30 school w/ low COL). Also, was admitted to a T6 (not HYS). Originally applied to state-school as a safety, but all the talk about the collapsed legal market, soul-crushing loans, debt collectors breaking your knee-caps, etc., has really made me nervous. Assuming no scholly from T6, which should I choose. My initial interest in law is to work in financial regulation, or do corporate law, but I'm a 0L so I honestly don't know shit. What you think?

Most people on TLS will advise taking the highest ranked school and paying sticker. This is because they're young and stupid and know nothing about life. Take the free ride since you said it was a good regional school (I assume this means you're happy with the region its in)

odd post, considering nearly everyone in this thread has either suggested otherwise, or said the decision depends on the OP's goals

hmmm

cinephile wrote:TITCR, I can't believe anyone would even suggest otherwise.

me either! especially since almost no one in this thread has suggested otherwise (besides sort of the first responder)

Last edited by DoubleChecks on Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

There isn't a "credited" response to this question - it all depends on OP. OP - if you don't mind going to school, living, and working in Georgia/the south, go to UGA for free. If you're undecided, I think you should go to CCN.

For what it's worth, I have already gotten a full ride + stipend at my state school (very comparable to UGA, another big SEC school) and have gotten into a T6. There is absolutely a 0% chance I'm taking the full ride. It's just not worth it to me to be stuck here after graduation.

Full disclosure: I am from the south/was born and raised here but I hate it, so that is playing a large role in my decision.

markdyoung wrote:This is what I'm looking at so far. I've been offered a full-ride at my home-state university (T30 school w/ low COL). Also, was admitted to a T6 (not HYS). Originally applied to state-school as a safety, but all the talk about the collapsed legal market, soul-crushing loans, debt collectors breaking your knee-caps, etc., has really made me nervous. Assuming no scholly from T6, which should I choose. My initial interest in law is to work in financial regulation, or do corporate law, but I'm a 0L so I honestly don't know shit. What you think?

Most people on TLS will advise taking the highest ranked school and paying sticker. This is because they're young and stupid and know nothing about life. Take the free ride since you said it was a good regional school (I assume this means you're happy with the region its in)

When talking about a T6 versus a T30, I say go with the T6. I'm not young, stupid, nor ignorant about life (6+ years WE). The opportunities of any T14 versus a T30 are huge. Example - while getting DC out of any school isn't easy, it's far easier to get a DC job out of a T6 or T14 than a T30. Another example - clerking - it's not easy to get a clerkship, but it's far easier to get one out of a T6 than a T30. Final example - academia - good luck becoming a prof without going to a T14 (at least).

Look, $200k is a lot of debt. Yet, all the T14's have strong LRAP programs. It's not as large of a gamble as some people here will have you believe.

Edit - also, OP says he has an interest in financial regulation/transactional work. At a T6, he has a reasonable shot at V10. At a T30, it is a far, far more difficult goal.